Anker's new SOLIX portable power station somehow shrinks while packing more juice than ever

Power disruptions can easily throw a wrench in your daily routine and derail important activities. If you want to safeguard yourself against such interruptions, getting a power station is a good idea. While there are some good options for home-based solutions, portable ones add the extra freedom of carrying them with you to a temporary work shed or even with you on a camping trip. The Anker SOLIX S5000 is a new entry in that category, and it offers more power in a smaller, lighter footprint than the competition.

After launching the S2000 compact power station earlier this year, Anker is now bringing a bigger option to the market. The SOLIX S5000 is rated at 5,024Wh, which makes it the largest standalone power station by capacity from Anker. It is promised to deliver 48 hours of backup, based on the cumulative power consumption of essentials, such as a refrigerator, a Wi-Fi router, a coffee machine, some lights, and a phone charger.

The power station can power appliances rated for both 120V and 240V, but running air conditioning or heating alone will likely drain the battery nearly twice as quickly. It’s rated for 4500 W of power and delivers a surge of 8000W for starting up heavier appliances. In cases of a grid failure, the S5000 ensures a smooth transition with a 10ms switchover.

For charging, the S5000 can charge up quickly in just 100 minutes using a 240V source. Along with that, it also accepts solar input, in case you want to extend backup. Despite the sizeable capacity, the power station shouldn’t be too difficult to lug around. It weighs 97 pounds (~44kg), and Anker says it’s about 20% lighter than another 5kWh-class power backup from another brand.

That claim checks out when comparing the SOLIX S5000 to Jackery’s Explorer 5000 Plus. Interestingly, it’s even lighter than Anker’s own SOLIX F3800 with a smaller base battery capacity.

The SOLIX S5000 is claimed to last 10,000 charging cycles, with an “estimated service life of up to 15 years.”

The Anker SOLIX S5000 will be available starting October 27 via Amazon and through Anker’s official online store. While the MSRP is set at $3,599.99, early adopters will be able to buy it for just $2,499.99.

For purchases made between October 27 and November 9, Anker will also offer perks worth $699, including a two-year extended warranty and a DC charging cable to be used with a SOLIX Smart Generator.